MFA statement on the agreement between the P5+1 and Iran on the comprehensive settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue

Submitted on Mon, 07/13/2015 - 22:00

On July 14 in Vienna, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his colleagues from Great Britain, Germany, China, the United States, France and Iran, assisted by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, agreed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding the Iranian nuclear programme.

This deal is the result of an integrated diplomatic process that has lasted for more than a decade. The talks to work out the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action took nearly two years. In the end, the political and diplomatic solution prevailed, which was always what Russia had been calling for. This approach has no alternative when it comes to settling international issues.

The agreement that has been reached will soon be submitted to and, hopefully, approved by the UN Security Council. It sets forth a number of specific voluntary commitments, which the P5+1, the EU and Iran undertake to implement as confidence-building measures and to achieve the final objective of ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme. The IAEA, being the sole international organisation with the requisite authority, experience and expert potential, will monitor compliance with the obligations related to nuclear activities under the agreement.

The deal is based on the approach articulated by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, which recognises Iran’s unconditional right to implement a peaceful nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment, subject to international controls, clarifying the outstanding issues with the IAEA and lifting the sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. This comprehensive agreement has come to life by following the step-by-step and reciprocal process, proposed by Russia and embraced by all of the parties to the talks.

Russia is committed to continuing intensive efforts to ensure that the agreement is implemented in a sustainable manner, including by carrying out some bilateral projects with Iran.

Russia calls on all of the participants in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to carry out the obligations they have assumed in good faith.

We strongly believe that the negotiated settlement will strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime and will have a positive impact on overall security and stability in the world and in the Middle East, including the Persian Gulf region. This comprehensive agreement is expected to rule out any possibility of settling the Iranian issue by force, as well as create important prerequisites for advancing the objective of creating a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, and mobilise a broad counter-terrorist coalition in the region. This would serve the interests of the international community in its entirety.

The deal is also expected to create new prospects for the progressive development of Russian-Iranian relations on a mutually beneficial and long-term basis, including carrying out major joint projects.

14 July 2015